Marc Polymeropoulos

Headshot - Woo, Willy - Cropped.jpg

Former CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer

Marc Polymeropoulos worked for 26 years at the CIA before retiring in July 2019 at the Senior Intelligence Service level. He was one of CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field assignments for the U.S. government. He specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East and South Asia, including extensive time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his retirement, Marc served at CIA headquarters and was in charge of CIA’s clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He frequently comments on international events in the media, to include the Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, and MSNBC. He also is a Washington Examiner contributor.

Marc’s book, "Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA,” will be published on June 8, 2021 by Harper Collins. Marc has honed a unique leadership style based on nine core principles. Each builds on the next and is designed for real world applicability, where one often operates under time constraints and with a lack of complete situational awareness. Marc describes how one must not fear but instead wildly embrace this ambiguity. Marc provides real work vignettes from the world of intelligence operations, yet also stresses that his principles can be used in any profession.